Internet access as a moderator of mental health and satisfaction with life during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from young Filipino undergraduates from income-poor households

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced extraordinary challenges in the personal and school lives of young people living in poverty in the Philippines. These pandemic-induced life challenges can be further complicated when the students experience mental health problems and have poor access to the Internet. Using the lens of capability approach, this cross-sectional online survey study examines how the interaction of mental health, and Internet access influence satisfaction with life during the pandemic among young, income-poor Filipino undergraduates through moderation analysis. A total of 1,393 public university students aged 18 to 24 years old from households earning an estimated monthly income of less than PhP10,000 (198USD) were included in this study. Findings reveal that more than half (53 %) of the sample report having unstable Internet access. Mental well-being was positively linked with satisfaction with life. Moreover, moderation analysis results suggest that stable Internet access can weaken the impact of poor mental health on life satisfaction among the income-poor students. The findings highlight the importance of addressing the mental and digital needs of youth living in poverty to improve their overall well-being.